Ebony Murphy-Root, 31, of Hartford, filed the paperwork for a petition drive to get onto the November ballot.

Murphy-Root's blog, in which she labels herself an "UppityNegress," immediately raised eyebrows, however.

Murphy-Root, a Stamford native who attended Greenwich Academy and is black, said she was merely being sarcastic about her background.

"I think people should be able to have a sense of humor," Murphy-Root said Thursday. "I attended prep school growing up. My dad's a truck driver. So that's something that I like to laugh about."

"I wanted somebody who was going to be very different," Pelto said. "I want a smart, real debate, a debate that will lead to change, and I think she will be a real partner in that. She is very dynamic. She knows her stuff."

On Murphy-Root's self-description, Pelto said, "It's in the public domain and she's certainly a public figure."

Pelto, a former state representative from Storrs, also filed paperwork Thursday to become a petitioning candidate. He has been critical of Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy over the governor's education agenda.